Colourised Olympic pictures released for what should have been the start of the Tokyo 2020 Games 

Striding along, hopeful of Olympics success, this newly colourised picture of Team GB in 1908 has been released to coincide with the first day of what should have been the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The image is one of a series of iconic photos from former Olympics transformed into colour to capture the excitement of these historic events.

Among them are US sprinter Jesse Owens competing in front of Hitler in 1936, Britain’s eldest ever gold medallist in 1908 and Italian marathon run Dorando Pietri on the verge of collapse, also in the 1908 Games.

Had Covid-19 not paralysed the world, the opening ceremony of the 32nd Olympic Games would have taken place in Tokyo tonight. It has now been postponed to 2021.

The 1908 Olympic Games, Games of the IV Olympiad, were originally awarded to Rome, but were reassigned to London when it became apparent that Rome would not be ready. A 68,000-capacity stadium was constructed at White City, in West London to host the athletics, cycling and swimming competitions, whilst most other events took place around London

The 1908 games in London was the most successful ever for the British team who competed under the banner of United Kingdom. They won a total of 146 medals, including 56 gold and 51 silver with 636 athletes taking part. These Games were the first to include Winter events and for the first time athletes marched into the stadium by nationality at the opening ceremony (above)

The 1908 games proved the most successful ever for the British team who competed under the banner of United Kingdom. 

They won a total of 146 medals, including 56 gold and 51 silver with 636 athletes taking part. A number of Irish athletes boycotted the games due to the dispute over Home Rule for Ireland.

 These Olympics were originally awarded to Rome, but were reassigned to London when it became apparent that Rome would not be ready. 

A 68,000-capacity stadium was constructed at White City, in West London to host the athletics, cycling and swimming competitions, whilst most other events took place around London.  

These Games were the first to include Winter events and for the first time athletes marched into the stadium by nationality at the opening ceremony. 

Also in 1908, Sybil Newall became Britain’s oldest ever winner of a gold medal in the Olympic Games triumphing in the archery contest at the age of 53. 

Newall, or Queenie as she was affectionately known, became the oldest female to ever win gold for the GB team.

 

US track and field star Jesse Owens was the undoubted star of the Berlin Olympics in 1936 winning four gold medals. He won the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay and also took gold in the Long Jump.

Hitler had wanted to use the games to show Aryan superiority and was stunned by the black sprinter overshadowing his own athletes.

In 1936, US track and field star Jesse Owens competed in front of Hitler at the Berlin Olympics and won four gold medals. He won the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay and also took gold in the Long Jump. His record haul of medals would stand for over 30 years

The 1908 games was also the first time when all the finalists in the archery competition were British.

Her victory was all the more remarkable as the first day of the competition almost had to be called off due to the poor weather that descended on White City stadium in West London.

But when the weather lifted, Newall who was the oldest competitor at the games won gold.

The pictures, released by MyHeritage.com, were brought back to life by a computer programme which uses an artificial intelligence programme to select the right colours.

It takes a few seconds to select the correct colours from its image bank containing millions of other photos and makes sure the right tones are used.  

In 1936, US track and field star Jesse Owens was the undoubted star of the Berlin Olympics in 1936 winning four gold medals. 

He won the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay and also took gold in the Long Jump. His record haul of medals would stand for over 30 years but his sporting achievements also had political implications. 

Hitler had wanted to use the games to show Aryan superiority and was stunned by the black sprinter overshadowing his own athletes. 

At the age of 53, Sybil Newall (second from right) is the oldest ever female competitor to win gold at a summer Olympics. The British athlete struck gold in the 1908 games in London in the archery competition. Best known as Queenie Newall she went on to become a UK champion in 1911, 1912 and 1924
Uniquely in battle for the gold medal all those taking part in the final were British.On the first day of the Archery competition the weather in White City Stadium was so poor that the event was stopped at one point After it cleared Newall went on to win with her victory making her the oldest woman to win an Olympic meda

At the age of 53, Sybil Newall (second from right) is the oldest ever female competitor to win gold at a summer Olympics. The British athlete struck gold in the 1908 games in London in the archery competition. Best known as Queenie Newall she went on to become a UK champion in 1911, 1912 and 1924

Owens, who returned to the US a hero, died in 1980 from lung cancer. 

When the sporting event resumed after the war in 1948, black and white photos had been replaced by colour. 

One of the most iconic photos from the pre-war Olympics featured Italian runner Dorando Pietri at the finish of the marathon of the London games in 1908. 

Near the exhaustion at the end of the 26mile race he collapsed soon after entering the stadium at White City in West London. 

Cheered on by 75,000 spectators he got up and continued only to fall down a further four times. 

Each time umpires trackside help him to his feet and he staggered across the finishing line. 

 

One of the most iconic photos from the pre-war Olympics featured Italian runner Dorando Pietri at the finish of the marathon of the London games in 1908. Near the exhaustion at the end of the 26mile race he collapsed soon after entering the stadium at White City in West London
Cheered on by 75,000 spectators he got up and continued only to fall down a further four times.
Each time umpires trackside helped him to his feet and he staggered across the finishing line.
Pietri was disqualified for the assistance he received after a complaint by US officials after their athlete finished second

One of the most iconic photos from the pre-war Olympics featured Italian runner Dorando Pietri at the finish of the marathon of the London games in 1908. Near the exhaustion at the end of the 26 mile race he collapsed soon after entering the stadium at White City in West London

Pietri was disqualified for the assistance he received after a complaint by US officials after their athlete finished second.

The first modern Olympics took place in 1896 in Athens, Greece. 

More than 60,000 people attended the opening day with 280 athletes – all male and from 12 countries – taking part.

Women were not allowed to compete with the games lasting two weeks.

The stadium was built on the site of an ancient Greek stadium that had all but disappeared. At the 2004 Games the stadium hosted the archery competition and the finish of the marathon  

The first modern Olympics were held at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece, on April 5th 1896.More than 60,000 people watched the opening ceremony with athletes from 20 countries taking part
Women were not allowed to compete with the games lasting two weeks. The stadium was built on the site of an ancient Greek stadium that had all but disappeared. At the 2004 Games the same stadium hosted the archery competition and the finish of the marathon

The first modern Olympics were held at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece, on April 5th 1896. More than 60,000 people watched the opening ceremony with athletes from 20 countries taking part. Women were not allowed to compete with the games lasting two weeks

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